The last week arrest of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, in the Benin Republic, has remained a talking point in Nigeria political scene.
In this week Politics Roundup, we looked at the development as well as other events kept many with different reactions, including the denial by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that The Federal Government did not stop Nigerians from using Twitter after the micro-blogging platform was suspended in the country.
We observed these stories and examined their implications on the nation’s growth and why they should not be ignored.
1. Igboho’s travail
On Monday, July 19, Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho was arrested alongside his wife Ropo in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
According to the activist lead counsel, Yomi Aliyu (SAN), Igboho was arrested alongside his wife, Ropo, by the International Criminal Police Organisation, popularly known as Interpol.
In a statement made available to First News on Tuesday, a day after Igboho was arrested, Aliyu described the arrest of the activist as shocking and urged the government of Germany, Benin Republic and the international community “to rise and curb the impunity of the Nigerian Government by refusing any application for extradition of our client who already has an application before the International Criminal Court duly acknowledged”.
Implications
The arrest of Igboho shows that amid the sagging reputation of the Buhari-led administration, the government is still active in intelligence gathering.
It’s, however, confusing that the government has failed to use the same intelligence gathering to arrest those, who according to many, are the real enemies of the country like leaders of bandits, killer herdsmen, Boko Haram and other criminal elements.
The arrest also paints a picture of desperation by the Buhari-led administration to muzzle dissenting voices.
Even if Igboho is repatriated to Nigeria at the end of his trial that may not guarantee an end to the clamour for a Yoruba Nation agitation. True governance devoid of perceived injustice and nepotism will.
2. Malami’s denial
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Thursday, July 22, denied that the Federal Government never asked Nigerians to stop using the micro-blogging platform, Twitter.
He made the denial before the Federal High Court in Lagos while responding to a suit filed by a Nigerian lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, over the suspension of Twitter by the Nigerian government.
In a counter-affidavit on behalf of the government, Malami said: “The applicant (Effiong) and the class he seeks to represent can still operate those Twitter accounts from anywhere in the world and even from Nigeria.
“Nigerians are still tweeting, even at this moment as the ban on Twitter is not aimed at intimidating Nigerians or an infringement on the rights of Nigerians to express their opinion.”
Implications
Malami and the government he represents should know that Nigerians are not fools. After the public vow to prosecute any Nigerian who used Twitter, the denial amounts to being clever by half.
Malami and the Federal Government, by the recantation of the threat to Nigerians following the suspension of Twitter gave the citizenry more reason to hold onto their belief that the government cannot be trusted.
3. Buhari’s admission
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, July 19, admitted that Nigerians are suffering under his administration.
The president made the admission in his Sallah message to Nigerians issued by his media aide, Garba Shehu and titled, ‘Eid El Kabir: President Buhari extols the sacrifices of Nigerians, urges patience as government addresses hardships’.
“As an elected president who enjoys the goodwill of the ordinary people that gave us their mandate, let me assure you that we are continuing with measures to bring relief to Nigerians,” part of the message read.
Implications
It is good that Buhari acknowledged Nigerians are suffering hardship under his government. Having done that, he should walk his talk by bringing respite to the sufferings.
With only two years left to complete his second term of four years, Buhari should know this is no time to praise suffering Nigerians and ask them for more patience. It is time for action and fulfilment of promises.
4. Oyedepo on Winners pastors’ sack
Media reports on Thursday, July 22, quoted the founder and presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church International, aka Winners’ Chapel, David Oyedepo, describing pastors recently sacked by the church as failures.
In response to a claim by Pastor Peter Godwin, who recently took to social media to announce that the church sacked him and some other pastors in Ekiti State because the church under them had a poor growth index and low income, Oyedepo said:
“People are confused about our Ministry. I learnt some fellows said, ‘you know, they are not bringing income, that is why they asked them to go’.
“We asked you to go because you are unfruitful. Unfruitful! Blatant failure. Doing what there? We have no patience with failure here.”
Implications
The event in Winners’ Chapel gives room for those who claim that some churches are now business enterprises to justify their position.
It is also disappointing that patience, which the Bible described as one of the fruits of the holy spirit, has been discarded by some churches.
5. Presidency’s claim on Buhari’s achievements
The Presidency on July 22, said that the President Buhari-led administration had against all odds achieved so much with meagre resources and time.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, who issued the statement said, “According to President Buhari, the security situation had improved compared to the instability in the North East before 2015, and the South-South, where some parts of the north were directly under the control of terrorists, while the south was facing serious challenges.”
Implications
The claim by the Presidency sounds ridiculous. With the free operations of bandits and terrorists in most parts of the North and atrocities of killer herdsmen across the country, even the blind can tell that Nigeria has never experienced the level of insecurity ravaging the country under the current administration.
It is either the Presidency is playing politics with its claim or deliberately wants to insult the collective intelligence of Nigerians.